by Chris Hechtl
“A lord may not be punished for anything less than high treason,” the steward said eying the Queen.
She turned a withering glance on him. “No sirrah, but you can.” He blinked then paled. “And as for the Duke,” she said coldly. She turned on him. Rojer tried hard not to tremble; he knew this would be bad. At best she could exile him, she needed him though! If she killed him it would echo through the lands! He thought. “I henceforth strip you of your titles, lands, and privileges. You shall henceforth be jailed in a remote tower of our choosing until life leaves your body,” she said, lifting her chin as her eyes flashed.
The Duke paled. “You can’t do that,” he said, jowls dancing as his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.
“She just did,” Perry said smiling coldly to the former Dominus. “A little light for my tastes but effective,” he said. He smiled darkly.
“Unless of course you want to challenge it with a duel?” Ryans asked. The Duke blinked then looked to Ryan's hand. He was holding a Glock.
“N-n-no,” he stuttered. He shook his head looking away. No.
“Thought not,” Ryans said smiling grimly. He looked at the guard checking Decrius. He shook his head, and then dropped a cloth over the man's face. “Pity.”
<==={}------------>
The Queen held court the next evening. She appointed the royal chef and food taster Cassius as a yeoman, with ten acres of land in the duchy of Rojer. Rojer was brought forth in chains and a simple white smock and belt. The other lords were stunned; some were outraged as the herald read out the list of charges.
Duke Troy objected immediately. Ryans nodded to a guard. “Here's the evidence you seek,” Ryans said. He tapped a control as the guards dampened the lights. The crowd murmured then gasped as a projection came on. They all turned to face it.
“Simple projector. We snagged one from an office board room before crossing. The screen is a white cloth,” Sydney murmured as he pressed play.
They watched and listened to Decrius's confession, then the encounter on the parapet and his murder... and the confrontation between the Queen and the Duke. Finally they listened to Yorick's confession.
“As you've seen, so shall it be. Rojer, former Duke of new Wellingham thee are struck of your titles and lands. Your eldest child shall inherit them upon reaching her majority,” the Queen said, every ounce a proud but stern monarch.
The crowd murmured at that. For some it was too much, others it was too little. Ryans shook his head; people just couldn't find a common ground sometimes.
“Since your eldest daughters are married to other lords and you have only one son but a babe, thy third youngest daughter shall inherit unless she abdicates to her younger brother on his tenth birthday,” She smiled at the teenager. “Your mother Serena shall be your regent with Duke Troy until you reach your majority to choose.”
The mother frowned and then bowed. Serena was pale, shocked to the core by the events. Now was not the time to protest or say anything, she knew how much risk was here now for her and their children. Rojer had failed utterly and she didn't even look at him. “Unless of course you choose to follow your husband in exile,” her majesty added. Rojer glared.
Serena frowned and then shook her head, still mute. “My place is with our children,” she murmured.
“Then Rojer, you shall be exiled to a hermitage the crown has selected. Only the crown shall know it's location for your protection,” she said. She nodded to the guards holding the man. “Get thee hence and never enter my sight once more or thee shall loose thine head.”
The former Duke stiffened and then walked stiffly out of the court. The steward, also chained took his place.
“Thy part in this is clear. But for the record...” She bowed slightly to Ryans. “Do make it clear for those here to understand.”
Silently the steward stared, and then a guard elbowed him. “Um ah... I... my lord Rojer set a series of tasks for me...”
The story poured out. Many gasped at the plot to kill the gaijin, the blatant plan to kill the Queen and steal the throne as a future move also received gasps of shock and dismay. His stealing things from the warehouse and the attempt on Wanda and her attempted kidnapping also got a gasp.
When the steward finally finished with the Duke planning to be the King and kill his own wife so he could marry Deidra or Zara the Duke's wife and family began to sob. Serena's shoulders shook, completely undone.
“He got off easy,” Perry murmured in the silence that ensued.
“What do you expect? He's a lord. They can't kill him unless he's actually done those things. Just plotting them isn't enough,” Sue murmured to him. He looked down to her.
“Didn't know you knew that,” he murmured.
“Comes with the territory. Besides,” she nodded her chin to the other lords. “If they killed one of their own for plotting they'd all end up dead. Politics makes for strange bedfellows. If the Queen pushes too hard it could backfire later.”
Perry nodded then turned to look at the Queen. She was pale but firm. Her lips pursed tightly. “For your... witness to these statements I shall leave you with your life sirrah. For having a hand in these events, and for killing Decrius in cold blood, you shall be whipped and then sentenced to a lifetime in the mines.”
The steward paled, and then his eyes rolled back and he fainted into the arms of his guards. The Queen snorted. “Get this rabble out of my presence,” she sighed then tapped the gavel at her side.
“Court is adjourned. I am excessively wearied by such troubling events,” she shook her head getting up. The assembly hastily stood straighter as the Queen sailed off, head high, followed by her guards and ladies.
Chapter 28
Ryans and Deidra shared some pillow talk time after a light love making session that night. Neither one of them had their heart in it after the events of the past two days.
“Will Rojer's eldest daughter really take the peerage?” he asked stroking her side.
Deidra shook her head. “Lilith is married to earl Pennington. Faith is married to a Dominus as well. As is Gwen and Bethany. Lieandra is the only one not married yet, but she's betrothed to Dominus Candleberry’s eldest grandson Albert.”
“Odd, they all married lords. No knights or lower peerages?” Ryans asked.
“No. Nothing odd about it, Uncle Rojer placed them where they're at to better fulfill his own ambitions. Though Lieandra may pass up the peerage, she's actually in love with Sir Albert.”
“Well, will wonders never cease,” Ryans chuckled softly. “I take it he's next in line for the earldom?” She nodded.
“His father died of the pox,” she grimaced. “I can't wait until Sue works her wonders to stop things like that from happening,” she sighed.
He nodded. “Yeah. So Lieandra is going to pass up a duchy to become the wife of an earl. Interesting.”
“Countess. Lilly really loves Albert though,” she smiled wistfully then coughed a little.
“Lilly?” he asked.
“Lieandra,” Deidra answered.
“Oh.”
“Young Uther Rojer may indeed take the peerage. Pity,” Deidra sighed. “If he survives to reach his majority. If he holds a grudge it could be a problem.”
“That could be a problem true. But let's not borrow trouble. If he knows exactly what happened and we present the evidence to him if someone tries to convince him of his father's innocence then we might be able to head that problem off. Education is the enemy of ignorance and bigotry.”
She blinked at him then shook her head. “Still it would've been nice to have had some more female lords.”
He chuckled softly. “Maybe you'll get a female or two in other positions. Eventually. If not by hook or by crook then you can always elevate someone of outstanding worth when it's your time on the throne,” he said suggestively. He smiled at her expression. “Then of course there are the crown ministers and judges.... With proper education nothing should bar them from holding those positions.”
Her eyes glittered a little at that.
They began a play fight, which dissolved into a pillow and tickle fight. She laughed as the pillows exploded and feathers fell in a blizzard. She coughed again when a pillow hit her. He felt a momentary concern, feeling like he had hit her too hard then she swatted him with her own pillow and the fight was back on. He chuckled, then caught her and tickled her until she kissed him. Momentarily taken off guard, he moved with the kiss until her eyes and smile grew wicked and her hands curled into claws to attack his now unprotected sides. He bellowed a laugh and twisted, but she hung on. He went upright but she sat astride him and pushed him back down with her weight and muscles trained in martial arts and war. He hit his head on the headboard and she was instantly contrite, kissing and cooing at him. He groaned a little to milk the situation then wrapped his arms around her and pinned her to his chest to kiss her soundly.
The next morning they cuddled, spooned together. When she didn't wake easily he caressed her face. He felt heat near her forehead. He checked with his hand, and then felt a pang of worry. She was running a fever. He got up and immediately called Doc.
<==={}------------>
Deidra and Zara were both escorted to the medical ward, very ill. Sue diagnosed influenza after examining each of them. “Damn it, I was afraid of this,” Sue said shaking her head. “Influenza. Temperature of a hundred and two, headache, chills, muscle pain, coughing, fatigue... damn!”
“Cross contamination or local bug?” Charlie asked, seriously worried.
Sue scowled, face bleak. “Either or both. I'm not sure. We don't have the facilities to check and be sure, so I'm going to eliminate the threat the best way we can. Roll up your sleeve Ryans,” she ordered. He blinked at her.
“Sleeve,” she snarled. She pulled out a blood draw kit. “You’re first.”
He grunted then sat down and rolled up his sleeve. “Antibodies Doc?” he asked.
“Well since we got the latest vaccines before we left, hopefully it'll help. If her immune system doesn't attack them instead of the damn virus,” she said. She sighed and looked over to a waiting nurse. “Flu protocols are in effect. Quarantine. Use antiseptics, gloves, and masks. Tell Dejani that I want those with the virus isolated and the staff attending to them isolated as well to prevent cross contamination. Get with stores and make sure they've got what they need sorted out and a place to work.” She looked over to another group of nurses staring.
“Move it people. We've got an epidemic to head off,” she said firmly, eyes flashing. The nurses scattered. “The good news, such as it is...” she swabbed his arm, “is that Wanda made antimicrobial wipes and we got started on an immunization project a week ago,” she said quietly to him as she set the blood draw up.
“And the bad news?” he asked.
“That we just started a week ago. I knew something was going to hit since the weather changed and it's cold and flu season. I wasn't sure which way it would jump though. Also we've only got so many needles to use,” she grimaced. “We've been boiling and using the sterilization chamber to recycle them till Max figures out how to make more, but there are only so many to go around. After a while though they're going to be painful to use. At least we don't have to worry about other things,” she said.
He nodded. “Yeah, glad we got the plastics sorted out,” he said. Which was true. They now could make raw plastic for the 3D printers. A lot of plastic medical gear was around them, but needles were stainless steel. He watched as she attached the tube and then looked away as she released the tourniquet and his blood began to flow through the tube and into the catch bag.
“Yup. And those fabricators help a bit,” she sighed. “We're going to have to set up quarantines. The old, the very young, and the sick are the highest risk groups.”
“Yeah, I know,” he muttered. He pulled out his tablet and typed with his free hand. He started a list and sent e-mails detailing the situation to all the gaijin. His eyes scanned the next document he brought up. He scowled, not happy about what he was seeing.
“We're going to need to inoculate them and anyone exposed as quickly as possible. Starting with the medical staff,” he said. She looked down at what was on the tablet.
“Notes?” she asked.
“Of course,” he smiled. “How do you think I know so much about different things? I check the database.”
Sue snorted. “Cheater.”
“Works doesn't it?” he asked.
“Okay, well, Domina Farnsworth has just started on a path to becoming an immunologist. I helped her isolate the smallpox virus yesterday actually.”
“Well, that's good news,” Ryans replied with a nod. She looked for Charlie. Charlie had already taken off with the blood sample.
“It's easy when you know what you’re looking for.” Sue grimaced. “We cultured it and she's testing a weakened version to see if it'll work as a vaccine.”
“Ah. I do hope you've got safety protocol in mind?” he asked.
“Do you take me for an idiot?” Sue snarled. He shook his head.
“Yeah, we're doing everything by the book, or as close as we can with what we've got to work with,” she sighed. “We've got to take some chances. We need a vaccine for a lot of stuff if we're going to start making a difference here.”
He grunted, worry was written all over his face though.
“Yeah I know, we've done that, but not enough. Not in my book anyway,” she growled. She pulled her own tablet out and frowned.
“How many?” he asked, now worried.
“Too damn many already. We're getting reports in from the hospital and clinics in the capital even as we speak. And it's getting worse every minute. I've got to...” A nurse bumped a tray to the ground. He jerked, startled. Sue pushed him down. “Easy.” She glared at the nurse.
The nurse mumbled an apology as she bent and picked the gear up. She tossed it into the soiled bin. She bent over at the waist, giving Ryans a perfect waist shot. He sighed, leaning back, closing his eyes.
“Headache already?” Sue asked looking down at him. She felt his forehead to check for a temperature but he seemed fine.
“No, just trying to stay out of trouble,” he replied, eyes still closed. She snorted glancing at the clumsy nurse. “Fat chance of that.”
“I can try can't I?” he mock demanded, rubbing his brow and covering his eyes. He peeked when the nurse was gone.
Sue snorted. “Yeah well, you do that. I've got work to do. Back in a bit.”
“Vampire,” he mock growled.
<==={}------------>
Doc, Charlie, Wanda, and Lady Farnsworth worked on a vaccine from antibodies from the Terrans. Charlie explained that the Terrans most likely introduced this version of the virus, and were vulnerable to the viruses the natives had in their bodies. They raced for a cure while isolating the sick in strict quarantine.
Working on a hunch Sue checked in on the wounded soldiers. The epidemic was hammering the military hospital and barracks. Some of the smarter people were wearing masks and improvised gloves. Infection protocols were filtering through to the various caretakers. Heralds went from door to door telling people what to do to treat the ill and providing medicine to ease the fever.
Sue found that some of the military people had had a weak run with the virus; some had none at all while others had the full effect. She borrowed Corgi to check the records. Sure enough those that had a gaijin blood transfusion were getting a weaker version or no illness. They had to be immune. She borrowed them to make more vaccine.
Several older and younger people with compromised immune systems died as the epidemic spread. Deidra and Zara managed to pull through the first two nights but were gravely ill.
Reluctantly Ryans stayed away from Deidra and the clinic. He wanted to be there, wanted to be by her side but he had to help organize the relief effort. He was torn but he knew she'd want him to help her people. He checked in on her though, having Sue set up a tablet and webcam so he could check in on her. Deidra
and Zara slept. The Queen came to visit each of them daily.
The isolated old retainers began to fall ill, with their compromised immune systems they began to wrack with terrible coughs and nausea. Fevers overheated the ill and some passed away in their sleep, bodies just too overwhelmed to cope. Sue tried to take the deaths in her stride.
The newly made aspirin, rest, liberal doses of citrus, the native fever reducing herb, and vaccines were the order of the day. Fortunately aspirin was already in production and being propagated throughout the realm. Senji and Xena camped out in the royal communications room for days answering frantic semaphore questions. Sue put together a FAQ and a treatment method for them to broadcast. Royal messengers were sent out. Sue made sure each was vaccinated before they left to try to contain the spread of the virus.
<==={}------------>
A week into the epidemic and they were starting to get things under control. Once treatment methods were released and the most vulnerable or those with the most contact with others were vaccinated the thing started to run its course. There were no antivirals to kill the virus; it had to run its course. The Queen's daily visits to her daughters and the wards, despite Sue's advice to stay away, had unintended consequences.
She hid her illness for a time, accidentally infecting her servants. When she realized the danger she was posing to her people she isolated herself and her servants in her tower. Sue heard about it and went to help. The Queen was feverish and delirious but firm and her servants followed her orders. A sick servant stumbled and accidentally knocked over a lamp, which lit a dust dry tapestry ablaze. In moments the entire tower was an inferno. Deidra and Zara sat up in bed and cried out when they saw the night blaze from their window. Deidra was getting better; she managed to pull her blankets off to get to the window before Zara. She stared in mute horror at the blaze.
The natives used a bucket brigade as well as hand pumps built by Max. They could see arms hanging out the arrow slits, people screamed, begging and pleading for help. Smoke poured from the tower.